Indian Pond-Heron

The Indian pond-heron, or paddybird, is a small, stocky heron with a short neck, short thick bill and buff-brown back. It breeds from southern Iran east to the Indian subcontinent, Burma and Sri Lanka and is widespread and common, but easily missed when stalking prey at the edge of small water bodies or roosting near homes. In summer adults have long neck feathers (Wikipedia, general species account).

It is transformed in flight, when the bright white wings flash against the streaked olive-brown body. Its camouflage is so good it can be approached closely before it flies, which has led to folk beliefs that it is short-sighted or blind. It is usually silent. It looks like the squacco heron but has a darker back. Nationally Least Concern (Sri Lanka National Red List 2012).